Aaron Pryor vs Sugar Ray Leonard

[raylawpc]

Interesting conjectures, Elmer and Alp. How about some analysis to support your assertions?

[BoxBuzz]

If Pryor really wanted to fight the top welterweights, he could have moved up in weight and done so. If he had beaten a couple of welterweights and established himself as the #1 contender, he would have got a title shot.

He was a great fighter and proved it against Arguello. However, it's a bit much to say that the top welterweights were ducking him.

How do you see the great Aaron Pryor vs these great welterweights of the time Alp?
1. vs Sugar Ray Leonard
2. vs Roberto Duran
3. vs Wilfred Benitez
4. vs Thomas Hearns
5. vs Pipino Cuevas

From 1983 to 84:
1. vs Donald Curry
2. vs Milton McCrory

Elmer....I'm not exaggerating when I tell you I believe completely that he would lose to each and every name on that list. Like I say, he was magnificently managed and he was pretty good. But not good enough to beat any of those names.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Whatever you think may've happened, people drastically under-estimate Pryor's chances against Leonard on many forums. The more I ponder it, the more convinced I become Pryor --- hungry & desperate --- was sure to be at the top of his game for this one, & I think he surprises Leonard for much of the fight, earning a narrow decision. I think Leonard's slight size advantage & versatility would get him home more convincingly in a return, but, as a one-off, I fancy Pryor to spring what many (falsely) believe would be a monumental upset at 147lbs.

[Ezzard]

If Pryor really wanted to fight the top welterweights, he could have moved up in weight and done so. If he had beaten a couple of welterweights and established himself as the #1 contender, he would have got a title shot.

He was a great fighter and proved it against Arguello. However, it's a bit much to say that the top welterweights were ducking him.

How do you see the great Aaron Pryor vs these great welterweights of the time Alp?
1. vs Sugar Ray Leonard
2. vs Roberto Duran
3. vs Wilfred Benitez
4. vs Thomas Hearns
5. vs Pipino Cuevas

From 1983 to 84:
1. vs Donald Curry
2. vs Milton McCrory

Pryor suffered KDs from guys who were not that great. His chin wasn't glass. Usually he went down from shots when he was off balance and didn't see them coming. These are exactly the kinds of punches he's going to be taking from Leonard and Hearns all night long (or as long as it lasts). Benitez showed against Hope that he could a job too...

Going toe-to-toe with a great but smaller man in Arguello (and having chemical incentives to do so) is not the same as going toe-to-toe with a fully fledged banger at 147. I cannot see him overcoming Cuevas or Curry.

Duran was just a league above, doing everything Pryor did but better, and faster and with a great defence.

If pryor carries the weight at 147 then he can beat McCrory.

[Ambling Alp]

I also think he could beat Cuevas. They were somewhat similar, but Pryor did most things better. Would have been fun to watch.
Curry would have been a tough fight, but eventually Pryor would probably get to him.

Leonard was just too good. He had no weakness; he had all the tools.
Duran-Pryor would have been an exciting battle, but I agree that Duran's had the better defense of the two and that would be enough.
Hard to say what would happen against Hearns, but it probably wouldn't be good for Pryor. Hearns might even blow him out early.
Benitez-Pryor might be a close fight, but Benitez defense would be just enough.

Pryor would probably blow through McCrory, who simply wasn't nearly as good as everyone that we are talking about.

[elmersalsa]

How about Pryor vs Benitez at 140lbs? I pick Pryor in this one.

[Goodnight, Irene]

How about Pryor vs Benitez at 140lbs? I pick Pryor in this one.

I do, too, but Benitez would run him a merry chase.

[yiddle]

pryor beats leonard he was not just a swarming fighter he could box to and had very fast hands ,he beat hearns in the ams

[raylawpc]

And Duane Bobick beat Larry Holmes in the amateurs . . . and Tony Doyle beat Joe Frazier in the amateurs . . . and Kent Green beat Cassius Clay in the amateurs . . . so what if Pryor beat Hearns in the amateurs? It proves nothing.

[Flump]

Leonard. By wide decision or late stoppage. Far too much everything for The Hawk.

[Elton John]

If Pryor really wanted to fight the top welterweights, he could have moved up in weight and done so. If he had beaten a couple of welterweights and established himself as the #1 contender, he would have got a title shot.

He was a great fighter and proved it against Arguello. However, it's a bit much to say that the top welterweights were ducking him.

How do you see the great Aaron Pryor vs these great welterweights of the time Alp?
1. vs Sugar Ray Leonard
2. vs Roberto Duran
3. vs Wilfred Benitez
4. vs Thomas Hearns
5. vs Pipino Cuevas

From 1983 to 84:
1. vs Donald Curry
2. vs Milton McCrory

Elmer you want to ask someone with some real knowledge, ask me dont ask someone like Alp. i was the one that corrected him the other day when he claimed Pernell Whitaker defeated Hector Camacho and he had to publically apologize for it. Who was it that caught him and corrected him? ME!!

Come on! You actually trust his opinions?!?

As for your question it would be Cuevas first since he crushed everybody, made the most defenses. He was truly at the end of the line and met up with the wrong opponent at the end of the line so Hearns crushed him. I'd say Leonard at number two since he beat both Benitez and Hearns and Duran (although an out of shape Duran)

hearns at 3, then Duran then Benitez since he was the weakest of the 5.

Milt McCrory not even worth mentioning!

Anyways, I see this fight, Pryor-leonard, as one of those big opportunity fights of a lifetime where the challenger, the underdog-Pryor raises his game up to the next level like he did for Arguello and proves too much for the heavy favorite Leonard the way the smaller Duran did to Leonard. Pryor is a bit fresher and naturally bigger than Duran so I would expect Ray to wilt somewhwere's by the tenth round.

Some would expect experience to be a problem for Pryor going in but I dont see it that way. Terry Norris himself was at a huge disadvantage experience wise and look at how easily he was able to figure leonard out and how quickly. Ray would not do the same with Aaron.

The fact is that Leonard just didnt want to take that chance with Aaron and you can easily see that at the post fight conference by the way Leonard turned him down in front of all those people. It reminded me of the way he kept turning down the Hagler fight.

Instead of accepting the way a real champion would have, he just told him to go sit down. I just think that's incredibly lame but coming from leonard what else would you expect?

Ray's weakness was his chin as demonstrated on so many occasions including that contest with 20-4 Kevin howard. The challenge of Pryor would prove to be infinitely more demanding. ray takes trips to the canvas in rounds 7, 11, and completely beaten from then on - just content to survive as in the Norris fight. Believe me, knowing ray Leonard, he'd be fed up with the whole thing by the tenth and ready to go home.

he's one of those part time fighters. You know, one day he's in and the next he's back out again.

To summarize my findings, Pryor by unanimous decision and NEW Undisputed welterweight champion of the World!

[Elton John]

As for Curry, the division was sort of a wasteland during the years 82-85 trying to re establish itself after so many superstars led by the bonebreaking Cuevas, Coors spokesman Palomino, the then formidable Duran and Leonard and...upcoming but the calorie deprived. Hearns.

As I said, the division really lacked an identity in the years following leonard's departure. I remember when Curry and Starling faced off with one another on CBS thinking "is that the future of the division?"

I knew we were in for a long stretch of mediocrity. That is, until a savior named Honeyghan came along and violently snatched the undisputed crown off his head.

It was a rude awakening for Donald believing his crown safe from all challenge and then meeting up with some new blood who changed the course of his entire career. Some people just cannot recover from this type of beating.

But I myself was thankful. Now we could get past Curry and move on to interesting matchups.

Simon Brown also was another quality welter. Starling remained dreadful, winning one losing the next. he never improved.

[Collins2000]

I knew we were in for a long stretch of mediocrity. That is, until a savior named Honeyghan came along and violently snatched the undisputed crown off his head.
Starling remained dreadful, winning one losing the next. he never improved.

Yet Starling was good enough to hammer the saviour named Honeyghan?

You been out drinking with silly old GI again, Reg?

[hitman09]

Leonard KO11, he'd be too good for Pryor, he'd run rings round him, and wear him down eventually.

[Goodnight, Irene]

I knew we were in for a long stretch of mediocrity. That is, until a savior named Honeyghan came along and violently snatched the undisputed crown off his head.
Starling remained dreadful, winning one losing the next. he never improved.

Yet Starling was good enough to hammer the saviour named Honeyghan?

You been out drinking with silly old GI again, Reg?

Wow, I get a mention in this thread? I must've really struck a chord.

I guess anything even remotely negative in reference to Ali has real staying power with you, doesn't it, Collins?

Who's really the biased fellow here? Me? Or you? Here's a hint --- it's you.

[Elton John]

I knew we were in for a long stretch of mediocrity. That is, until a savior named Honeyghan came along and violently snatched the undisputed crown off his head.
Starling remained dreadful, winning one losing the next. he never improved.

Yet Starling was good enough to hammer the saviour named Honeyghan?

You been out drinking with silly old GI again, Reg?

Your man Starling got two shots at Donald. The first time Donald was fighting the flu and Marlon STIL couldnt beat him! That's weak. The second time, it was just lopsided-not even a contest.

And then a savior named Honeyghan came along-strong, fierce, fearless taking the fight to the undisputed champion.
Lloyd got the gravy. Starling got the leftovers

[Collins2000]

I knew we were in for a long stretch of mediocrity. That is, until a savior named Honeyghan came along and violently snatched the undisputed crown off his head.
Starling remained dreadful, winning one losing the next. he never improved.

Yet Starling was good enough to hammer the saviour named Honeyghan?

You been out drinking with silly old GI again, Reg?

Wow, I get a mention in this thread? I must've really struck a chord.

I guess anything even remotely negative in reference to Ali has real staying power with you, doesn't it, Collins?

Who's really the biased fellow here? Me? Or you? Here's a hint --- it's you.

Hahahahahaha. You are a funny little man.

When will the tears start this time?

Your record is 48 hours before you start babbling like a teenage girl who's been dumped.

[Collins2000]

I knew we were in for a long stretch of mediocrity. That is, until a savior named Honeyghan came along and violently snatched the undisputed crown off his head.
Starling remained dreadful, winning one losing the next. he never improved.

Yet Starling was good enough to hammer the saviour named Honeyghan?

You been out drinking with silly old GI again, Reg?

Your man Starling got two shots at Donald. The first time Donald was fighting the flu and Marlon STIL couldnt beat him! That's weak. The second time, it was just lopsided-not even a contest.

And then a savior named Honeyghan came along-strong, fierce, fearless taking the fight to the undisputed champion.
Lloyd got the gravy. Starling got the leftovers

My prediction, Reg?

Starling TKO9 Honeyghan.

[Elton John]

My prediction, Reg?

Starling TKO9 Honeyghan.

here's some resluts we call all take note of:

Curry W 15 Starling

Curry W 12 Starling

Bumphus W 10 Starling

Savior Honeyghan KO 6 Curry

Savior Honeyghan KO 2 Bumphus

Saving us from the Benitez-Leonard-Curry legacy. In other words, a great brawler beats a great boxer any day

[Collins2000]

My prediction, Reg?

Starling TKO9 Honeyghan.

here's some resluts we call all take note of:

Curry W 15 Starling

Curry W 12 Starling

Bumphus W 10 Starling

Savior Honeyghan KO 6 Curry

Savior Honeyghan KO 2 Bumphus

Saving us from the Benitez-Leonard-Curry legacy. In other words, a great brawler beats a great boxer any day

You missed Magic Man Starling TKO 9 Saviour Honeyghan.

It did happen, Reg. Even in that strange world you inhabit.

Do you still keep in contact with Renate?

[Goodnight, Irene]

"Hahahahahaha. You are a funny little man.

When will the tears start this time?

Your record is 48 hours before you start babbling like a teenage girl who's been dumped.

" - Collins

Lemme knows I enjoy the sniping as much as the next man, but you are going to have to fill me in on this one. You keep mentioning how I go on about being picked on. It needs explaining, because I can't fathom what it is you're having the time of your life over.

[Collins2000]

"Hahahahahaha. You are a funny little man.

When will the tears start this time?

Your record is 48 hours before you start babbling like a teenage girl who's been dumped.

" - Collins

Lemme knows I enjoy the sniping as much as the next man, but you are going to have to fill me in on this one. You keep mentioning how I go on about being picked on. It needs explaining, because I can't fathom what it is you're having the time of your life over.

Let's wait and see how it pans out, GI. In the meantime just enjoy that picture of Elton John.

[Elton John]

It did happen, Reg. Even in that strange world you inhabit.

Sorry but I had to cut thru the fat on your response. Nothing personal.

Just think Hagler-hearns

Camacho Norris

Hamsho-Benitez

jackson Norris

a great offense beats a great boxer any day of the week!

[Elton John]

"Hahahahahaha. You are a funny little man.

When will the tears start this time?

Your record is 48 hours before you start babbling like a teenage girl who's been dumped.

" - Collins

Lemme knows I enjoy the sniping as much as the next man, but you are going to have to fill me in on this one. You keep mentioning how I go on about being picked on. It needs explaining, because I can't fathom what it is you're having the time of your life over.

Let's wait and see how it pans out, GI. In the meantime just enjoy that picture of Elton John.

I know I did

[ts20743]

I'm more a Pryor fan than Leonard fan, but will pick Leonard by close/narrow decision...